Tuesday 9 April 2013

Christmas Activities - Activity 3: Holiday Homophones


In December, some colleagues and I planned three activities that could be used in an activity centre for the holiday season. Each of these activities can easily be adapted from Christmas to winter activities, or objects from any other season! I'll post alternative ideas under each Christmas activity.


Activity 3: Holiday Homophones 
Planned for use with Grade 2+


Quick Review:

A homonym is one of a group of words that share the same spelling and the same pronunciation but have different meanings. 
A homophone is a word that is pronounced the same as another word but differs in meaning. The words may be spelled the same, such as rose (flower) and rose (past tense of "rise"), or differently, such as carat, caret, and carrot, or to, two and too.



The Activity:

Purpose:
  • A fun way for students to review homonyms 
Materials:
  • Construction paper, markers, ruler, scissors, glue, bristol board, laminator, velcro (optional)
Instructions:


Approximate sizes based on legal size (8.5 x 14 inches) paper.

Assembled fireplace
  • Trace each shape on coloured construction paper as indicated in the picture above (I made 4 of each, but any number can be used)
  • Draw bricks on the red construction paper with a thin black marker or black pen
  • Write homophones in black marker on white pieces of construction paper (the fireplace mantel) and glue to the top of the red fireplace.
  • Glue the black pieces of construction paper at the bottom of the fireplace in the centre
  • Write homophones in black marker on the yellow pieces of construction paper 
  • Glue the yellow pieces on a piece of bristol board and glue the fireplaces on the bristol board
  • Laminate the bristol board and cut the pieces out
  • Optional step: add a small piece of velcro to the back of the fire pieces and a small piece in the centre of the fireplaces
  • Ask students to match the homophones on the fire pieces with the words written on the fireplaces

Finished Product

Note: Do not glue flames to the fireplace. 
They are meant to be removed after each use but can be temporarily attached using velcro pieces.


Adaptations:
  • Use fish tanks and fish for an activity that is appropriate year-round. This would look especially effective if teaching words with more than one homophone (eg. sent, scent, cent) 
  • Replace the fireplace with the fish tank, and the fires with fish
 









Christmas Activities - Activity 2: Word Endings

In December, some colleagues and I planned three activities that could be used in an activity centre for the holiday season. Each of these activities can easily be adapted from Christmas to winter activities, or objects from any other season! I'll post alternative ideas under each Christmas activity.



Activity 2: Stocking Word Endings
Planned for Grade 1, can easily be adapted for other grades

An envelope to hold all of the pieces.
I would recommend a more durable envelope for classroom storage



The Activity


Purpose:
  • A fun way for students to review word endings (also - word families, rhyming words)


Materials:
  • Construction paper, markers, scissors, glue, bristol board, laminator 


Instructions:
  • Print pictures of stockings or draw stockings on red construction paper and cut them out (stockings should be at least half of a sheet of construction paper)
  • Draw the white "fluff" for the top of the stocking on white construction paper and cut it out
  • Glue the stockings on white bristol board and glue the white fluff at the top of the stockings. It should stick out around the top about a 1/2".
  • Write the word ending at the bottom of the stocking in black marker.
  • Draw or print pictures of three (or more) candy canes on white construction paper. Decorate them and cut them out.
  • Write words with matching endings on the candy canes in black marker (see picture above and below)
  • Glue candy canes on the bristol board
  • Laminate the bristol board and cut out the stockings and candy canes.
  • Cut a line with scissors or a utility knife in the middle of the white fluff leaving an inch of construction paper on each side (see picture below).
  • Explain how to match the candy canes and stockings to your students.

That's it!
Here is the finished product:









Alternatives:
  • Use a flower shape - Write the word ending in the middle and have words on each petal



Christmas Activities - Activity 1: Mood Match

In December, some colleagues and I planned three activities that could be used in an activity centre for the holiday season. Each of these activities can easily be adapted from Christmas to winter activities, or objects from any other season! I'll post alternative ideas under each Christmas activity.


Activity 1: Face and Mood Matching Game
Suitable for Kindergarten - especially for Language Arts and Religious Education outcomes

Make sure you have an envelope to hold all of the pieces. 
I would highly recommend laminating the construction paper or using a more durable envelope.


The Activity 


Purpose:
  • Match the mood on the faces to the mood listed on the body to review concepts about moods in class
  • Note: Kindergarten students may need help reading the words 
Materials:
  • Construction paper, markers, glue, scissors, bristol board, laminator 
Instructions:
  • Print various pictures of toys or draw your own on construction paper (make sure they're at least half of a sheet of paper so you can draw or see the expression on the face)
  • Draw the head separately, or cut the head off the picture and lay aside. Create a "stem" at the bottom of the head (see above picture).
  • Glue the body and head piece on bristol board and laminate the bristol board. This makes the pieces thicker and more durable.
  • Cut out the body and head pieces. 
  • Use scissors or a utility knife to cut a line across the neck of the body piece. This allows the head piece to slip in.
  • See picture below for finished product.



 Ta Da!

 Explain to your students how the pieces fit together and then you're ready to go!



Alternatives:
  • Use pictures of children in summer clothes for a summer activity
  • Use pictures of students in school clothes for use at the beginning of the year
  • Use popular TV characters to motivate hesitant children to get involved with the activity